 Most viewed - SHIGA 滋賀県 |
Gary Hamilton71 views
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Start of the Hikone Castle Parade on Nov. 3. Boy Scouts help out by carrying signs.71 views
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Samurai wives71 views
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Katsugi veiled kimono worn by the nobility in the Muromachi Period.71 views
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Established in 717 (Nara Period), Hyozu Taisha worships a god named Onamuchi-no-Mikoto (大己貴命) also called Yachihoko (八千矛神). Onamuchi-no-Mikoto is a god of nation-building, farming, business, and medicine.71 views
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This garden is also beautiful in fall when they light up the autumn leaves at night (see photos below).71 views
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Looking toward Hyozu Taisha Shrine.71 views
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Meanwhile a Shinto ceremony is held in the shrine hall.71 views
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The children's mikoshi start to leave Hyozu Shrine as the festival winds down.71 views
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Large sacred tree.71 views
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Kenketo dancers, wearing peacock feathers, are carried on shoulders.71 views
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The banner reads, "Oarahiko Jinja."71 views
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The hikiyama float's wheels cannot turn, so they turn the float by tilting it and turning it by force. This is the Tomoe (巴) hikiyama float. 71 views
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The floats have festival musicians who play the taiko drum, bell, and flute.71 views
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Conference Room is toward the bow on the 3rd floor. 会議室71 views
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Conference Room71 views
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Mikoshi boats await the mikoshi.71 views
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The crowd watching the boat procession was sparse. It seems most people were waiting for the fireworks instead. It was a hot day too.71 views
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Steps going up to Sannomiya Shrine. 71 views
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Near the Kawara Roof Tile Museum is this dock where you board the moat boat. Fare is 1,000 yen for adults.71 views
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Fire monster rages hotly.71 views
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Fukusuke statues at Kashiwabara-juku History Museum (2nd floor). Fukusuke (福助) is based on an actual person who was a shop clerk at the Kameya moxa shop. He had a large head and big ears and was honest, friendly, and a hard worker71 views
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Stage entertainment at Yaito Matsuri at night.71 views
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Statue of Yamato Takeru in Samegai-juku's water spring. It is not certain that this was the spring which Yamato Takeru used. Another theory says that he used Tamakurabe Clear Spring in Sekigahara, Gifu.71 views
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Portable boat landing decks (in blue) were used.71 views
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Leaving Nagahama Port at around 8:30 am. Photos you see here are only part of the total number of photos I gave to Seta Rowing Club for distribution.71 views
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Food Court.71 views
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Namura Shrine is divided into the west and east areas. This is the west area which is larger and the main section. Haiden Hall on the left and Nishi Honden on the right behind a wall.71 views
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The yabusame (horseback archery) part of the festival finally started at around 4 pm. There were several horseback riders, but only this woman was going to shoot arrows.71 views
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Kannonji Pond 観音寺池71 views
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Gate of Kannonji temple in Maibara. Kannonji temple is noted as the place where Toyotomi Hideyoshi rested during falconry session when he met Ishida Mitsunari who was studying at the temple.71 views
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Gate of Kannonji temple in Maibara. MAP71 views
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Nakasendo Road: Otsu, 69th post town on the Nakasendo from Hiroshige's Kisokaido series. Hatcho-dori street and Lake Biwa in the distance.71 views
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Maibara Station's window wall, right outside the turnstile. This is the first thing you see when you give your ticket to go out.71 views
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Rhododendron71 views
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Rhododendron in sight from the trail.71 views
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Letter from Ishida Mitsunari.71 views
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Map of Azai Folk History Museum which is a complex of small museum buildings including two thatched-roof homes.71 views
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Most of the time, the galleries show work by the students. They undergo a screening to get an exhibition slot, so you can bet that the quality is high.71 views
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The hula girls were joined by Awa Odori girls from Tokushima.71 views
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At sround 11:30 am, they cleared the area and brought out the giant kite (odako).71 views
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The kite is unique for its cutout and hanjimon (判じもん) design. 71 views
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The entertainment stage provided entertainment like samba dancing and taiko drummers.71 views
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Kites from around the world.71 views
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The Higashi-Omi giant kite.71 views
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I was waiting for this. Sacred dances by shrine maidens who looked to be high school girls.71 views
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Sugatani Onsen lobby. Very nice and spacious. They had New Year's decorations when I visited in early Jan. 2014.71 views
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Bath for men. The sign says "Bath for Nagamasa" and the women's sign says "Bath for Ichi."71 views
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Yamato Takeru defeated the boar, but not before the boar showered him with poisonous mist. He went to Isame no Shimizu in Samegai whose waters healed him. Then he went on to Ise, but died soon afterward.71 views
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The Japan Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU) is a study abroad program operated by the State of Michigan and Shiga.71 views
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Inside the main lobby of the Japan Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU) in Hikone.71 views
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Restaurant in the Otsu Station building 2nd floor before renovation in 2016.71 views
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Entrance to Ikemen Battle 2013 next to the Shiga Prefectural Government.71 views
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Way to Nagahama Castle's main tower (donjon).71 views
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Yanmar Museum entrance hall.71 views
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Yamaoka Magokichi was awarded this ring from Augburg, Germany, making him an honorary citizen. Yamaoka had built a stone monument for Rudolf Diesel in Augsburg, a sister city of Nagahama.71 views
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Before and after having farm machinery.71 views
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Also visited Zensuiji in autumn. Thought it was more colorful than in spring.71 views
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Near the bus stop is this information booth. You can get directions here.71 views
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University of Shiga Prefecture was founded in 1995, so the buildings still look new and modern.71 views
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In the auditorium lobby, companies were holding a recruiting fair when I visited in Jan. 2016.71 views
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Inside the library (school ID required to enter).71 views
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Lake Biwa shore in Hassaka.71 views
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At Hama-Otsu, shopping mall Aqus, also built on reclaimed land.71 views
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Too many Otsu condos block lake views.71 views
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Manohama Beach71 views
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Listening corner list of cover artists. There are many, and you can listen to each of them. Biwako Shuko no Uta Shiryokan (Lake Biwa Rowing Song Museum), Imazu71 viewsThe song was included in a record for the first time in 1958 when Kyoto University made an album of its university songs on the 90th anniversary of the school's founding. In 1961, a chorus group named Boney Jacks recorded the song in an album of Japanese songs. And so did singer Peggy Hayama in 1962.
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The best way to see Kaizu-Osaki cherry blossoms is by boat. During the first half of April, cherry blossom cruises for Kaizu-Osaki depart Imazu Port a few times daily.71 views
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Top floor of Hikone Castle's Nishinomaru turret.71 views
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Kaizu-Osaki and Chikubushima.71 views
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Cycling up northern Lake Biwa.71 views
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Arrow-shaped "eri" fish trap. It leads fish swimming along the fence into a small area where they can be caught.71 views
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Lake Biwa Giant Catfish is the lake's largest endemic species (max. 1.2 meter long), dubbed the King of Lake Biwa.71 views
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Miidera in Otsu.71 views
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Most of Lake Biwa's boats are named after Otsu's sister cities. This is Lansing.71 views
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Seta Karahashi Bridge in Otsu.71 views
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Garden70 views
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Torii and steps to Inari Shrine70 views
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Hinokawa Dam Park and Mt. Watamuki. 日野川ダム公園70 views綿向山
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Exit to Heiwado70 views
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Stationmaster's office70 views
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Verse 570 viewsOne of the verses mentions an "old castle" which most likely refers to Hikone Castle. This monument commemorates the song and that verse 5.
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Nishi Azai-cho Town Hall70 views
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Omi-Shiotsu Station and old trains70 views
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Corridor to main hall70 views
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Photo taken in Jan. 2006.70 views
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Seta River seen from Seta Karahashi Bridge70 views
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Seta Karahashi Bridge, east end70 views
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Seta Castle site70 views
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Seta Castle stone lantern70 views
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Mt. Yukinoyama and Hino River 雪野山と日野川70 views
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Obata dolls 小幡人形70 views
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Tokonoma alcove70 views
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This is actually the Tenbin no Sato Culture Center. てんびんの里文化学習センター70 views
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Nagahama Station, west side (Nagahama Castle side)70 views
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Anegawa River70 views
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Verse 2 photos (Omi-Maiko)70 views
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Photo exhibition in Biwa Library70 views
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6th panel showing Verse 5 (Hikone)70 views
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10th panel showing Oguchi Taro song monument and his grave and house in Okaya, Nagano.70 views
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The second yakata-bune boat. They referred to old drawings, etc., and carefully built the boat to resemble Edo-Era yakata-bune.70 views
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End of the 50-min. ride. It was pleasant, and highly recommended. Boat landing for the Hikone-jo Ohori Meguri boat ride is near the entrance to Genkyu-en Garden.70 views
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Starting at 9:30 am, members of the giant kite preservation society began pasting and joining about 400 sheets of washi paper to make the giant kite paper.70 views
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Vermilion painting of "sei" is complete.70 views
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Reception counter. The 11th Shiga Kenjinkai International Convention was held in Shiga for the first time in 16 years. There are currently 71 Shiga Kenjinkai groups in Japan and overseas.70 views
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Woman worker70 views
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Locomotive nameplate "SL Kita-Biwako" (SL stands for steam locomotive.)70 views
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Former Echi Town Hall70 views
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Tsuchiyama is also famous for tea production which started here way back in 1356 by a temple priest at Jomyoji temple. Tsuchiyama boasts Shiga's largest tea cultivation area (300 hectares) and production volume.70 views
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According to one legend, Shogun Sakanoue Tamuramaro was requested to eliminate mountain bandits robbing travelers on Suzuka Pass. After doing so, he shot an arrow from the top of the Suzuka mountain. The arrow landed here, where bamboo then sprouted.70 views
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Hat problem.70 views
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The singers stopped singing and just watched.70 views
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View from the main hall of Enshoji.70 views
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徳性寺70 views
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Nakasendo Road going to Samegai-juku.70 views
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Jizo-do temple houses a Jizo statue. Originally built by the Ogaki Castle lord Ishikawa Hyuga 石川日向守 in the Edo Period after he recovered from illness. The temple holds the Jizo-bon festival in Aug. 地蔵堂70 views
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Mizunoeki rest house next to Samegai Station70 views
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The tulips come in various colors.70 views
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Inside Kogenji Temple main hall. Admission to see the Kannon statue is 300 yen. Open 9 am - 4 pm. Parking available. Appointment not necessary to see the Kannon statue.70 views
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Nishino Yakushido Kannon-do Hall is in western Takatsuki. Noted for two Kannon statues which are Important Cultural Properties. 西野薬師観音堂 MAP70 views
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One of Takatsuki's eye-catching buildings is this Yanmar Kaikan Public Hall in Higashi Atsuji. It is the birthplace of Yamaoka Magokichi, founder of Yanmar Co. ヤンマー会館 MAP70 views
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Way to Nakae Toju's hometown.70 views
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Sign announcing that Adogawa is the birthplace of Nakae Toju.70 views
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Clear stream next to the Toju Shoin Study.70 views
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Rear of Toju Shoin Study.70 views
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After the aerobics performances, there was a one-hour lunch break at noon, and a group picture-taking session of all the aerobics teams and officials.70 views
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シモツケソウ70 views
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Shiga Prefectural Gym in Otsu70 views
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Fujiwara Takamichi 70 views
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Ray Schafer for free throw.70 views
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Bobby Nash70 views
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Leaving Zeze Castle70 views
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Ogoto Port70 views
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Keihan Keishin Line train coming from Kyoto.70 views
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Monument for Otsu's Point Zero for its roadways.70 views
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Keihan Shimanoseki Station70 views
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Wara goes for a shot.70 views
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Band plays again during half-time show.70 views
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The birds rest on a small island close to the shore.70 views
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Where the frozen surface meets the non-frozen part.70 views
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No. 33 Bobby Nash70 views
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Make it a jump ball70 views
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Bobby Nash70 views
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Ryan going for a free throw70 views
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Cheerleaders in the stands to wake up the crowd. This was the second occasion for the LakeStars to play in Maibara.70 views
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Ogawa Shinya, local boy from Nagahama.70 views
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Shiga LakeStars cheerleaders change their uniform and strut their stuff.70 views
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Juni-no-yaku musicians are from the medieval period of Japan, and rarely seen in other festivals. In Shiga, this is the only festival where they appear.70 views
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The two boys in front are sasara players who use a bamboo whisk rubbed with another notched bamboo stick as a musical instrument. The bamboo whisk looks very similar to the puili sticks used in hula dancing.70 views
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The doll at the bottom is Iwami Jutaro. There was a village where a female human sacrifice had to be offered to a big baboon. When the next victim was to be the village headman's daughter, Jutaro decided to get rid of the baboon. 岩見 重太郎 70 views
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The Hana-yakko dancers supposed to be all local boys, but due to depopulation, now they include girls. They are intermediate and high school students.70 views
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Hana-yako dancers pass by the floats.70 views
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Chigo-no-mai dancers70 views
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Next was the Suzu-no-Mai (Bell Dance). He holds a bell in his right hand and a gohei sacred staff with zigzag paper hanging. (御幣). 稚児の舞 鈴の舞70 views
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The climax of the festival was when they detached the bamboo support poles (called sasu サス) from the float decorations.70 views
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The ropes are quite thin, making me think the float is not so heavy.70 views
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Inside Chawan Matsuri no Yakata Museum is a life-size replica of a festival float.70 views
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The children carried the smaller poles called ko-nobori.70 views
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The Nishihama mikoshi on its way to Kaizuten Shrine.70 views
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Rest break for Kaizu mikoshi.70 views
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Several hundred meters of stone wall was built in the early 18th century along the lake shore to prevent high waves from damaging homes.70 views
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First the two men are served various food and drink for a meal. Two young lads will cut funa-zushi fermented fish (crucian carp native to Lake Biwa) as an offering. The festival prays for abundant harvests and good health.70 views
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A wooden cutting board with 10 funa-zushi each.70 views
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It takes 3 or 4 years to ferment the fish with salt and rice. It's Shiga's most famous delicacy. In the old days, it was common for people to make their own funa-zushi. Today, few make their own. Most buy it at the supermarket, fish shop, etc.70 views
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